Welcome to Vilnius - Lithuania and to the 152nd edition of the Forum Song Contest (FSC).
Theme: ‘Lietuvos Didysis Kunigaikstis Gediminas’
Winner FSC September 2021
Congratulations! ^^
The Host city for this FSC #152-edition is : Vilnius - Lithuania , the capital and largest city of Lith
uania. It has a population of around 589.000 as of 2021 . The city is situated in southeastern Lith
uania and is the second-largest city in the Baltic states. It is the seat of Lithuania's national gover
nment and the Vilnius District Municipality. Vilnius is classified as a so-called Gamma global city.
Vilnius is known for the architecture in its Old Town, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1994. Before World War II , Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centres in Europe. Its Jewish
influence has led to its nickname "the Jerusalem of Lithuania". Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem
of the North" as he was 'passing through' (on his way to confront Russia) in 1812 , say historians.
In 2009 , Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture . In 2021 , Vilnius was named among the top
25 fDi's Global Cities of the Future - one of the most forward-thinking cities with the greatest pote
ntial in the World . The name of the city originates from the Vilnia River , from the Lithuanian word
for ‘ripple’ . The city has also has had different spellings in other languages f.ex. "Vilna" in English
The historian Romas Batūra identifies the city with Voruta, one of the castles of Mindaugas, who
was a King of Lithuania in 1253. During the reign of Grand Dukes Butvydas and Vytenis a city sta
rted emerging from a trading settlement and the first Franciscan Catholic church was built. Arch
eological findings show this city was capital of Kingdom of Lithuania / Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The city was first mentioned in written sources in 1323 as Vilna , when the Letters of Grand Duke
Gediminas were sent to German cities inviting Germans (including German Jews) to settle in the
capital city, as well as to the Pope. Vilnius' location offered practical advantages: it lay in the Lith
uanian heartland by 2 rivers (Vilnia and Neris), surrounded by impenetrable forests and wetlands
Vilnius was the flourishing capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania , residence of the Grand Duke.
Gediminas expanded the Grand Duchy through warfare along with strategic alliances and marria
ges . The city underwent a period of expansion in the 16th century . The Wall of Vilnius (a defens
ive wall) was built for protection (between 1503 and 1522) comprising 9 city gates and 3 towers.
Vilnius' growth , was due in part to the establishment of Alma Academia et Universitas Vilnensis
Societatis Iesu by the Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stephen Báthory in 1579. The uni
versity soon developed into one of the most important scientific , & cultural centres in the region
and the most notable scientific centre of the new Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (from 1569)
During its rapid development, the city was open to migrants from many territories. Each group co
ntributed uniquely to the city's life , and crafts , trade , and science prospered. The 17th century br
ought a number of setbacks. The Commonwealth was involved in a series of campaigns or wars,
collectively known as Deluge . At the end of the 18th century , Vilnius entered the Russian Empire
The 18th and 19th century , brought division , strife and uprisings to Vilnius . Forces led by Polish
general Jakub Jasiński expelled Russians from Vilnius during the uprising in 1794 , but later Vilni
us was annexed by the Russian Empire & became capital of the Vilna Governorate. Following the
November uprising in 1831, Vilnius University was closed & Russian repressions halted progress
‘Lietuvos Didysis Kunigaikstis Gediminas’
‘Grand Duchy of Lithuania’
The 1st known record of the name of Lithuania (Lithuanian : Lietuva) is in a 9th March 1009 story
of SaintBruno in the Quedlinburg Chronicle also known as the Annals of Quedlinburg . The Chroni
cle recorded a Latinized form of the name Lietuva . In 2009 Lithuania celebrated it's 1000th anniv
ersary from the date the country/nation was first mentioned in the historical annals or chronicles
The 1st people settled in the territory of Lithuania, after the last glacial period in the 10th millenni
um BC : Kunda , Neman and Narva cultures . They were traveling hunters & did not form stable se
ttlements. In the 8th millennium BC , the climate became much warmer, & forests developed. The
inhabitants of what is now Lithuania then travelled less and engaged in local hunting, gathering &
fresh-water fishing. Agriculture did not emerge until the 3rd millennium BC due to a harsh climate
and terrain, and a lack of suitable tools to cultivate the land. Crafts & trade also started to form at
this time. Over a millennium , the Indo-Europeans, who arrived in the 3rd - 2nd millennium BC, mix
ed with the local population and formed various Baltic tribes. These Baltic tribes did not maintain
close cultural -or- political contacts , with the Roman Empire but they did maintain trade contacts
Tacitus in his study Germania , described the Aesti people, inhabitants of the south-eastern Baltic
Sea shores who were probably Balts around the year 97 AD. The Western Balts differentiated and
became known to outside chroniclers first. Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD knew of the Galindians
& Yotvingians and early medieval chroniclers mentioned Old Prussians, Curonians & Semigallians
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state which lasted from the 13th century to 1795,
when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire , the Kingdom of Prussia , and the
Habsburg Empire of Austria . The state was founded by Lithuanians who were at the time a poly
theistic nation born from several united Baltic tribes from Aukštaitija.The Grand Duchy xpanded
to include large portions of the former Kievan Rus' , & other neighbouring states , including what
is now Belarus and parts of the current nations of Ukraine , Latvia, Poland , Russia and Moldova.
At its greatest extent, in the 15th century , it was, in fact, the largest country in Europe . It was a
a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, with great diversity in languages, religion, & cultural
heritage . The consolidation of the Lithuanian lands began in the late 12th century . Mindaugas,
the first ruler of the Grand Duchy he was crowned as Catholic King of Lithuania in the year 1253
The pagan state was targeted, in the religious crusade by the Teutonic Knights and the Livonian
Order. The rapid territorial expansion started at the late reign of Gediminas, ‘father of the nation’
and continued to expand under the rule of his 2 sons Algirdas & Kęstutis. Algirdas's son Jogaila
signed the Union of Krewo, in 1386 , bringing 2 major changes in the history of the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania: conversion to Christianity , & establishment of a dynastic union between the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania & the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland ( i.e the power of the King of Poland )
Civil unrest in 1861 was suppressed by the Imperial Russian Army. More supression followed. In
1905 the Great Seimas of Vilnius was held in the current Lithuanian National Philharmonic Socie
ty building with over 2000 participants. It was the 1st modern nationalcongress in Lithuania. The
assembly decided to demand (in a peaceful way) wide political autonomy in the Russian Empire.
It is considered an important step towards the Act of Independence of Lithuania , adopted on 16
February 1918, by the Council of Lithuania , as the Seimas laid the groundwork , for the establish
ment of an independent Lithuanian state , with Vilnius as capital . In WW1 , the Germans invaded
Lithuania, afterwards Russia invaded , and Poland too. Vilnius has faced occupation many times
WW2 followed and Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union and a Soviet government was inst
alled , with Vilnius as the capital of the newly created Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic . Many
decades later , as 1980s turned into 1990s , winds of freedom finally blew across Europe & steps
were taken for independence. In1991 Lithuania finally celebrated as an independent nation again
In recent times , Vilnius has been rapidly transforming, emerging as a modern European city. The
majority of its historical buildings , during the last 25 years have been renovated , and a business
and commercial area is being developed into the New City Centre that is expected to become the
city's main administrative , economic and business district on the northern side of the Neris river.
Almost half of Vilnius is covered by green areas , such as parks, public gardens, natural reserves.
Additionally, Vilnius is host to numerous lakes where residents and visitors swim and have barbe
cues in summer . Many tourists visit Vilnius every year . The best-rated tourist services, in Vilnius
are restaurants ( cafés ), old town attractions, hotels , trips to Trakai castle & parks (green zones)
Vilnius is a city of culture with many festivals, theatres, and museums. The Lithuanian State Sym
phony Orchestra is renowned . Fashion and clothing , also has historical importance . Sights and
attractions: Gediminas Tower , St. Anne’s Church , Gate of Dawn , Gediminas Monument , Jewish
Quarter, Church of St. Peter & St. Paul, Vilnius Town Hall, Cathedral Square, & Presidential Palace
Vilnius is also a city of Sport. The biggest team is the basketball club BC Rytas Vilnius, which par
ticipates in European competitions and the domestic Lithuanian Basketball League. The city also
has several football teams . Olympic champions in swimming Lina Kačiušytė and Robertas Žulpa
are from Vilnius. The Vilnius Marathon's an international marathon with 1000s runners each year.
The Host venue for FSC #152 October 2021 is : the ASG Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania (ASG st
ands for Avia Solutions Group). It is located in southern part of Verkiai elderate of Vilnius and is
the second largest arena in Lithuania. It generally hosts basketball games , as well as concerts.
The arena opened on 30th October 2004 as Siemens Arena ( renamed 2020 ) . The basketball cl
ub Rytas Vilnius, which currently competes in the domestic LKL and in Eurocup, uses the facility
for all of its European home fixtures. Avia Solutions Group Arena also hosts Rytas home fixtures
of the Lithuanian " national derby " against its archrival Žalgiris Kaunas in both the LKL and BBL.
The ASG Arena is the first universal arena of international level in Lithuania. Here the largest and
most important national entertainment , sports & business events take place : concerts of world
-famous & local sport stars , various international sports matches , performances, theatre perfor
mances, business seminars & assemblies. Many worldfamous music stars have performed here
incl. Metallica, Anastacia, Phil Collins, DefLeppard, Lana Del Rey, Enrique Iglesias, LinkinPark, Avr
il Lavigne and many more. Its capacity for music concerts of different varieties is 12.500, for bas
ketball the capacity is 10.000. They are happy and proud to host this evening’s edition of the FSC
Our lovely Hosts this evening are:
Gabrielė Martirosianaitė , Giedrius Masalskis and [/B] Ugnė Skonsmanaitė
Gabrielė Martirosianaitė (born 1991 in Kaunas, Lithuania) is a Lithuanian model, actress & radio
and television presenter . For many she is best known as Miss Lithuania 2008. She has become
known to an international audience for hosting the Lithuanian national selection for the Eurovisi
on Song Contest (ESC) She is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
Giedrius Masalskis (born 1971 in Vilnius, Lithuania) is Lituanian Head of LRT Radio Department
responsible for 3 public broadcaster radio stations: LRT Radio, LRT Classic & LRT Opus . He has
hosted tvshows/awardshows. He has also hosted Lithuanian national selection for the Eurovisi
on Song Contest (ESC). He is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest
Ugnė Skonsmanaitė (born 1988 in Klaipėda, Lithuania). She has been a blogger , & a MTV Lithua
nia show-host and a tv-personality. She also worked with productmanagement. She has become
known to an international audience, for hosting the Lithuanian national selection for the Eurovisi
on Song Contest (ESC). She is proud to co-host this evening’s edition of the Forum Song Contest